Another band from F.D.A. Rekotz roster that have recently released their debut full length record, Deserted Fear is, like many bands the label, a Death Metal band that worships old school 90’s bands like Bolt Thrower, Entombed, Morgoth, and, yes, Asphyx, but include more modern touches alongside these influences.

Hail of Bullets is another band that comes to mind when listening to My Empire. The approach here is a bit more polished, technical, and may not be as quickly perceived as old school Death Metal as other bands on the label. Drums have a more technical edge, with blast beats alternating with slower mid tempo shifts. Mahne’s vocals are more of the low growled variety, with some areas where Martin Van Drunen is referenced.

After the intro, “The Battalion of Insanities” begins with a Bolt Thrower type build up, then going into full blast beat mode for the verse. The vocals are pretty brutal here, accompanying the riffing into some faster, chaotic areas. The second track, “Pestilential”, begins again with the blasting tempo shifts, and the riffs have that chainsaw-like feel to their execution, laying everything to waste. “Nocturnal Frags” is mid tempo affair, with guitars taking on a more melodic approach in between some more brutal riffing.

The solos here are quite amazing, with the backing sections taking on a more progressive metal approach. “The Morbid Insection” sounds as if Morgoth played with a more modern Metal influence, with some start-stop stuff that modern Death Metal incorporates nowadays. The Black Incantation” has a more groove-oriented feel to its composition. “Scene Of Crime” and the rest of the record continue on with the abrupt shifts in tempo and mixture of old and new Death Metal tricks. The title track contains a very catchy chorus which also makes it stand out.

Overall, the My Empire by Deserted Fear is a well conceived record in which it is evident that the players spent some time composing some very good ideas, although some of the ideas seem to be a bit similar on some tracks. The guitar solos, however are very well played, elevating some of the songs and making some repetitive areas more tolerable.

The band members themselves play with an energetic approach that displays lots of skill, and this record managed to capture that essence very well.